Ammunition magazine for firearms



May 1, 1945;. c. L. HoLcoM 2,375,106

AMMUNITION MAGAZINE FOR FIREARMS Filed May 19, 1943 VENTQR.

H01 c m mb Patented May 1, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AMMUNITION MAGAZINE FOR FIREARMS Charles Lee Holcomb, Wenatchee, Wash.

Application May 19, 1943, Serial No. 487,625

Claims.

This invention relates to ammunition magazines for firearms, such as cartridge magazines for single-shot rifles.

An important object of the invention is to provide a magazine which maybe mounted upon .a side of a rifle stock, at any preferred location along the side, and from which cartridges may be readily extracted by hand.

Another important object is to provide a cartridge magazine wherein the cartridges are resiliently supported with their longitudinal axes normal to the axis of rotation of a rotor forming a part of the magazine.

Still another object is to provide a device of this kind which does not entail major alterations to a conventional firearms stock, the only change necessary being to provide a shallow screwthreaded socket in a side of the stock.

Another object is to provide a light-weight magazine for cartridges but which is so constructed that the relatively heavy cartridges will not tend to cause twisting, bending or collapsing of the magazine or any of its several parts. While there are no coil springs in the structure, sudden shocks to the device are adequately cushioned.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a front end elevation of the novel magazine.

Figure 2 is a vertical section thereof taken just under the front end cover. Y

Figure 3 is an elevation of the rear end cover of the magazine.

Figure 4 is a fragment of a blank, providing a rotor for the novel device.

Figure 5 is an elevation of the front cover-and housing, looking into the housing.

Figures 6 and '7 are sections on substantiall the lines 6-6 and 'l-1 of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a conventional rifle, with the novel magazine attached thereto.

Figure 9 is a section thru portions of the magazine and rifle stock.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts thruout the several views, the letter A may designate the novel magazine, B ammunition, such as cartridges carried thereby and C a firearm, shown as a conventional rifle. p

The novel magazine A is of the type adapted to be attached or secured to the exterior of the firearm, preferably on the stock, as distinguished from built-in magazines, and is of the handfeed class, It includes a housing portion I0, having a front wall I, preferably circular and flat;

except at its central portion where the material may be upset providing a circular depression 12 in its outer face 3, with a perforation it at its center extending to the inner face It. One portion of the edge of the front wall H is cut away, providing an opening it to be referred to later. A rear wall ['7 parallels the front wall ii, the wall H being preferably circular and flat, and has a perforation l8 extending from the inner face 19' to the outer face 20 of the wall Ii, concentric with the perforation M. The edge 2| of the rear wall I! (which is really a disc) may be provided with a plurality of short shallow depressions 22' and a longer but shallow depression 23 for a purpose later detailed. In Figures 3 and 7 are shown a cam 24 of considerable importance in the operation of the device. This cam 24 projects from the inner face l9 and is disposed substantially midway the length of the longer depression 23 and inwardly of this depression.

Joining the front wall H and rear wall I? is a substantially cylindrical wall 25 which is, of

course, normal to the walls II and H, and has an opening 26 which registers with the opening it. The walls 25 and H may be integral and the inner end 21 of the wall 25 provided with a plurality of short lugs 28 adapted to fit into the shallow depressions 22 in the wall 17, when the housing is assembled, whereby neither wall will rotate relative to the other.

Within the housing portion in is an ammunition-carrying portion 30, which may be a rotor portion and comprise a disc 3! having a central opening or perforation 32 extending from one face 33 to the other face 34, a plurality of pairs of spaced-apart slots 35 extending from adjacent the outer edge 31; of the disc toward the central perforation 32 but not radially of the perforation, as is shown in Figure 4, for each slot 35 of a pair parallels the other of the pair. Theseslots 35 may terminate, at their inner ends, in some- What U-shaped' slits 3'! as shown in Figure 4.

The disc 3! is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart substantially U-shaped slits 38, adjacent the edge 36 and a plurality of substantially U-shap'ed slits 39, shorter than the slits 38, but also disposed adjacent the edge 35-. The material within the slits '38 when bent in one direction provides fingers 20 extending diagonally from the face 33 of the disc 31 and the material within the slits 39 may be bent to form shorter fingers 4! extending diagonally from the face 34 of the disc 3!. The fingers 49 are adapted to bear against the inner face l of the front wall H and the fingers 4| are adapted to bear against the inner face 19 of the rear Wall ll. By this arrangement, means is provided by the fingers 4i] and ll, forming a part of the disc 3|, bearing against the faces l5 and it, to retain the disc, in a somewhat yieldable position between the walls H and H, but nearer the rear wall ll. The fingers Mland AH are, in effect, leaf springs and are preferably of metal sufiiciently strong to resist any normal tendency of the disc 3| to cant, even when loaded with cartridges. from the edge or the disc 3| are a plurality of ears or projections 62 having fiat outermost edges 43, for a purpose subsequently explained, and, preferably, curved side edges i l. Each edge 43 forms, with a line drawn from the axis of rotation of the disc 3i, thru the longitudinal center of an adjacent cartridge carried by the disc, substantially a right angle.

Means carried by the ammunition carrying portion 30 (or rotor portion) for releasably supporting ammunition includes a plurality of spring clips or holders 45, shown particularly in Figures 6 and '7. These are of novel construction and comprise a pair of facing, spaced apart arcuate arms or grips la-adapted to normally embrace the cylindrical portion of a cartridge B, substantially as shown in Figure 6, and project upwardly from the face 33. Joining each arm 25 is a doubled-over section 53 lying upon the face 33 and providing in efiect a lever, turning upon the rolled outer edge ill. From the lowermost doubled-over portion 48 of the section there is an arcuate, bowed or bight portion 49 joining the portions 48 extending thru two adjacent slots 35 and lying over a portion of the lower face 35 (and spaced therefrom) of the disc 3|, as inFigure 6. The arcuate portion 0.9 slides freely in the slots 35 but bears against the edges of the slots.

Means for attaching the magazine to a firearm and, at the same time, provide a pivbt for the disc ti includes a screw 50 with its head 5| accommodated within the depression l2 and a portion of its shank 52 extending thru the aligning perforations I4 and i3, forming a pivot, and its screw threaded portion screwed into the firearm, preferably into the wooden stock. It has been found, in actual practice, that this attaching means is all that is necessary in order to attach the magazine to a firearm, when the screw is tightened, yet tightening interferes in no way with the operation of the device.

The ammunition B is shown as conventional cartridges, each having a cylindrical case 69, a rim 6! at one end and a slug 62 at the opposite end.

The firearm C illustrated is a single-shot rifle, with stock 65, into the side (either the right or left side, depending upon whether the rifieman is right or left-handed) of which ma be formed a screw threaded opening 66.

'It will be seen that the perforated, slotted and slitted disc 3! may be readily stamped from a fiat sheet of suitable material, the ribbons of material, forming the spring clips 45, inserted into two adjacent slots 35 and bent into shape, the material forming the fingers M3 and M bent away from the respective faces of the disc 3! and the disc then inserted into the housing, with the screw it disposed as explained.

Extending Because of the lugs 28, cooperating with the depressions 22 and the contact of the inner end 2'! of the wall 25 with the rear wall ll, the housing can neither accidentally collapse nor can the walls H and 25 rotate relative to the wall ll, yet the housing may be quickly disassembled.

The opening represented by the combined registering openings [6 and must be so positioned and of such a size that, when cartridges B are disposed upon the disc 3|, as in Figure 2, with their rims iii resting upon the edges 43 of the ears :2 and their slugs 62 nearest the axis of rotation of the disc 3i, a finger and thumb of a rifieman may be inserted into the combined openings to extract a cartridge or charge the magazine, as well as to rotate the disc.

As the disc 3i is rotated, the bowed or bight portion d9 of the spring clip 45, as it approaches a line drawn from the center of the combined openings it and 26, toward the pivot 52, will be engaged by the fixed cam 24, the clip will be temporarily distorted and the arms 46 move away, slightly, from the cartridge B, embraced thereby. This will enable the cartridge to be readily extracted, yet it cannot slip, due to the contact of the rim 61 with the edge 43 of its ear d2. In the same way, a cartridge may be inserted into the magazine and as the disc 3! is slightl rotated (in either direction), the bowed portion d9 Will slide oil the cam 24 and the arms 26 Will spring into gripping relation with the cartridge, holding it against slipping, even when inverted (slug end upwardly).

The absence of coil springs, ratchet devices and a plurality of bolts or screws, renders the device one not apt to get out of order or difiicult to assemble and attach to a support. It is silent in operation, shields the ammunition from rain and dust, and it is small and compact.

Various changes may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims,

I claim:

1. In a magazine, adapted to be attached exteriorly of a rifie and to carry cartridges, which may be hand-extracted, a housing portion, including front and rear walls and a wall normal thereto and joining said front and rear walls, said front wall and the wall normal thereto having registering openings, a cartridge-carrying portion within said housing portion, including a rotatable disc in said housing, having a plurality of spaced-apart pairs of slots, resilient means carried wholly by said disc for supporting cartridges thereon with their longitudinal axes normal to the axis of rotation of said disc, including a one-piece resilient clip for each cartridge, hav ing a pair of cartridge-embracing arms extending from one face of said disc, two doubled-over sections extending from said arms and disposed upon said disc, two sections extending thru a pair of said slots and a bowed section joining said last-named sections and extending from the other face of said disc, said registering openings being so disposed that the finger and thumb of a rifieman may be employed to rotate said disc and extract cartridges from and replace cartridges in said housing thru said openings, said housing portion being provided with a fixed cam positioned adjacent said openings and disposed so that, as a cartridge carried by said disc approaches the center of said opening, the bowed section of the clip supporting said cartridge will contactsaid cam and will spread, causing said arms to spread away from said cartridge.

2. In a magazine, adapted to be attached ex teriorly of a rifle and to carry cartridges, which may be hand-extracted, a housing portion, including front and rear walls and a wall normal thereto and joining aid front and rear walls, said front wall and the wall normal thereto having registering openings, a cartridge-carrying portion within said housing portion, including a rotatable disc in said housing, having a plurality of spaced-apart pairs of slots, resilient means carried wholly by said disc for supporting cartridges thereon with their longitudinal axes normal to the axis of rotation of said disc, including a one-piece resilient clip for each cartridge, having a pair of cartridge-embracing arms extending from one face of said disc, two doubled-over sections extending from said arms and disposed upon said disc, two sections extending thru a pair of said slots and a bowed section joining said lastnamed sections and extending from the other face of said disc, said registering openings being so disposed that the finger and thumb of a rifleman may be employed to rotate said disc and extract cartridges from and replace cartridges in said clips thru said openings, said housing portion being provided with a fixedcam positioned adjacent said openings and disposed so that, as a cartridge carried by said disc approaches the center of said opening, the bowed section of the clip supporting said cartridge will contact said cam and will spread, causing said arms to spread away from said cartridge, said disc being provided with two sets of resilient fingers, one extending diagonally from one face of said disc to the facing surface of the front wall of said housing portion and the other of said sets extending diagonally from the other face of said disc to the facing surface of the rear wall of said housing portion, the length of said fingers being sufficient to enable the cartridges and said bowed portions to clear said front and rear walls upon rotation of said disc, but not sufiicient to enable said bowed sections to clear said cam, and to enable the fingers to bear against said front and rear walls.

3. In a magazine, adapted to be attached exteriorly of a rifle and to carry cartridges, which may be hand-extracted, a housing portion, including front and rear walls and a wall normal thereto and joining said front and rear walls, said front wall and the wall normal thereto having registering openings, a cartridge-carrying portion within said housing portion, including a rotatable disc in said housing, having a plurality of spaced-apart pairs of slots, resilient means carried wholly by said disc for supporting cartridges thereon with their longitudinal axes normal to the axis of rotation of said disc, including a one-piece resilient clip for each cartridge, having a pair of cartridge-embracing arms extending from one face of said disc, two doubled-over sections extending from said arms and disposed upon said disc, two sections extending thru a pair of said slots and a bowed section joining said lastnamed sections and extending from the other face of said disc, said arms extending toward the front wall of said housing, said registering openings being so disposed that the finger and thumb of a rifleman may be employed to rotate said disc and extract cartridges from and replace cartridges in said housing thru said openings, said housing portion being provided with a fixed cam extending from the inner face of said rear wall, positioned adjacent said openings and disposed so that, as a cartridge carried by said disc approaches the center of said opening, the bowed section of the clip supporting said cartridge will contact said cam and will spread, causing said arms to spread awa from said cartridge, said disc being provided with two sets of resilient fingers, one set extending diagonally from one face of said disc to the facing surface of the front wall of said housing portion and the other of said sets extending diagonally from the other face of said disc to the facing surface of the rear wall of said housing portion, the length of said fingers being sufficient to enable the cartridges and bowed portions to clear said front and rear walls upon rotation of said disc, but not sufficient to enable said bowed sections to clear said cam, and to enable the fingers to bear against said front and rear walls.

A cartridge support for insertion into a cartridge magazine, said magazine having a wall paralleling said suport, said support comprising a rotatable disc having opposite faces, a plurality of spaced-apart ears extending, in the plane of said faces, from the edge of said disc, each ear having a substantially flat outer edge, adapted to support the rim of a cartridge, a spring clip adjacent each ear, including a pair of cartridgeembracing arms, and a plurality ofresilient fingers extending from said disc, the shortest distance between the tip of any of said fingers and. the nearest face of said disc being greater than the distance between the tip of any of said arms and the nearest face of said disc, said arms and fingers'extending from the same face of said disc, whereby said fingers are adapted to resiliently contact said wall of said magazine.

5. A cartridge support for insertion into a cartridge magazine, said magazine having a 'wall paralleling said support, said support comprising a rotatable disc having opposite faces, a plurality of spaced-apart ears extending, in the plane of said faces, from the edge of said disc, each ear having a substantially fiat outer edge, adapted to support the rim of a cartridge, a spring clip adjacent each ear, including a pair of cartridgeembracing arms, and a plurality of resilient fingers extending diagonally from said disc, the shortest distance between the tip of any of said fingers and the nearest face of said disc being greater than the distance between the tip of any of said arms and the nearest face of said disc, said arms and fingers extending from the same face of said disc, whereby said fingers are adapted to resiliently contact said wall of said magazine.

CHARLES LEE HOLCOMB. 

